Straight lines Pot Holes & stabilisers

[happydaze]

Well as i work through my issues at being a competent rider of the R1100RT , i hope i am nearly at the end of understanding what makes this bike tick ,(well maybe that`s a life`s work) , [ yes i have had the seat height one sorted and the surging one sorted , the funny cluncking from the ABS at pull off , the gearbox changing /oil debate etc etc and find i really have grown to love this bike ---- EXCEPT i can`t drive it slowly , ie filtering -without weaving like a total novice , ok i am a novice by comparasion to most of you , I have a mere 7 years riding experiance , but i wonder if the tyres are working against me , these are Michelin Pilot road 2 radials , plenty of tread on them .
Any suggestions for a remedy apart from fitting stabilisers ? or tightening the nut at the end of the wheel .
This tyre question also made me think with the amount of bloody great holes in the road after the freeze up in Bath , if anyone had ever fitted GS tyres to an 1100RT ? as its almost of-road or of-bike decision when i go out at the moment , any thoughts ? Pete

[daveparry]

Funny thing Pete but I have a recently aquired R1100RT and I find it easier to ride slowly without weaving than my R80RT! I've had the R80 for about 4 years and always feel, as you put it like a learner when filtering and riding slowly in traffic, feet flapping around all over the place! I haven't had the seat height problem with the 1100, although having only a 29in. inside leg the standard seat suits me fine. Also I think the throttle bodies must be set up well as there's no surging. Thats a strange noise that comes from the abs sorting itself out isn't it? I do have a clunking noise from the front end when going over bumps so that's something I do need to look at,
regards,
Dave.

[Bandytales]

Well as i work through my issues at being a competent rider of the R1100RT , i hope i am nearly at the end of understanding what makes this bike tick ,(well maybe that`s a life`s work) , [ yes i have had the seat height one sorted and the surging one sorted , the funny cluncking from the ABS at pull off , the gearbox changing /oil debate etc etc and find i really have grown to love this bike ---- EXCEPT i can`t drive it slowly , ie filtering -without weaving like a total novice , ok i am a novice by comparasion to most of you , I have a mere 7 years riding experiance , but i wonder if the tyres are working against me , these are Michelin Pilot road 2 radials , plenty of tread on them .
Any suggestions for a remedy apart from fitting stabilisers ? or tightening the nut at the end of the wheel .
This tyre question also made me think with the amount of bloody great holes in the road after the freeze up in Bath , if anyone had ever fitted GS tyres to an 1100RT ? as its almost of-road or of-bike decision when i go out at the moment , any thoughts ? Pete

You could try altering your tyre pressures.
If your riding real slow, just lightly drag your back brake but leave the front alone. This WILL give you more stability.
You could try altering your rear shock absorber pre load.
Also, you could get some other competent RT rider to have a ride to ensure it is not something on the bike (like maybe twisted frame/fork/ telelever etc).
Andy

[Vince]

I would suggest tyre pressures as well.
Michelin suggest 42R & 36F for my PR2s on my R12RT.
I'd try them in yours.
hth
\v/

[snurfen]

Another vote for tyre pressures. but also....

is there any slack between shut throttle and first rev rise? (If you see what I mean). In the past, I've had trouble with low speed manouvers because of too much play at virtually nil throttle - too much coasting at low speeds destabilises a bike.

[aero]

My R1150R is one of the best bikes for filtering. I was surprised as its big and heavy. No trace of a weave or any low speed issues. The only problem I have is the ABS is fierce.

As mentioned above check your tyres. Also wheel/steering bearings, spindle for correct installation and suspension joints. A handling problem like this needs a good thorough look into as the Beemer isn't noted for these problems so something must be wrong.

[snurfen]

are you following the "Steering Wobble" thread - very similar sort of posts. The article wulfrun posted was very informative - helped me make a few connections.

[ilkleyal]

You should be able to do full lock u turns on your bike if its set up properly. As its a big bike you would benefit from training in slow riding, as they will be a bitch to pick up. I have been riding a long time and I learned a lot from the IAM last year including slow riding technique.

HOWEVER! No dry clutch bike will thank you for practising slow riding on them and I suggest you learn to do this on a bike with a normal bike clutch. The trick when slow riding is to look where you want to end up rather than just in front of the bike. With regular checks for hazards of course. Once learned, the skill is easy to reproduce on the beemer. Vary speed with rear brake and clutch and maintain a constant low throttle setting. (as taught by the IAM)

Al.

[spot]

get plenty of air in the tyres al and then put a bit more in1 45 back,35 front as a starting point and then up or down a bit to suit. Try loads more than you would expect and see if it works. Mine handled like a pig on friday after a few months lay off and when i eventually got to an airline i only had 30 or so in the back (warm) Another 10 made all the difference. The other thing is the front tyre. even when half worn it tends to follow lines in the road, more so at low speeds.

[Mad Sapper]

+1 on tyre pressures. Don't over inflate your tyre though, it will make the bike feel lighter & more responsive, but the grip patch will be affected, and also at speed the ride will be harsher, more shock & vibration into the rider & pillion.
When slow riding your revs do need to be higher than you'd think, but don't worry, as mentioned above, with the slightly trailing back brake (& this works on linked brakes too) you fool the bike into thinking it is going faster than it is. You should be comfortable at little more than walking pace.
It is a skill best practiced out of the way though. If you have access to a lighter machine on which you can practice it'll save putting your back out picking it up. :-)

[Mad Sapper]

get plenty of air in the tyres al and then put a bit more in1 45 back,35 front as a starting point and then up or down a bit to suit. Try loads more than you would expect and see if it works. Mine handled like a pig on friday after a few months lay off and when i eventually got to an airline i only had 30 or so in the back (warm) Another 10 made all the difference. The other thing is the front tyre. even when half worn it tends to follow lines in the road, more so at low speeds.

On another forum I visit, that would earn you such a THWAAAAAAAACK for not kicking your tyres before going out. Hee HEE Hee.

[Jaythro]

What "Shape" are you tyres ??? Are they 50 pence profiled??? If so change the tyres despite having "plenty" of tread the shape is probably throwing you out badly

I rode an 1100RT down to mine last week with tyres that sort of shape and it just fell into corners When I took it back to my friends I told him that he needed to change them! He said he liked the way it "fell" into corners?

Another thing Go to Michelins website and check thier recommendations for Tyre pressures for your specific tyres they spend a fortune designing and building a tyre So they know what it was meant to do! Use that as a start point Don't mess with them too much as you'll get instability elsewhere

Also perhaps SPII are too soft for the weight of an RT???

[happydaze]

Thanks one and all , Jaythro you hit the nail on the head when you mentioned "the way it fell into corner`s because that is very much the feeling of mine , as for pressures i`ve been going on the little handbooks guide of solo 31 an 36 rear , + pillion 36 an 42 rear , so i think the tyre`s could be quite significant hear . cheer`s Pete

[happydaze]

I have checked the shape of the front tyre and yes it does have that 50 pence shape even though there is plenty of tread .. so it might now be solved , i am getting the front end checked , just as well as soon it will more clement conditions , thanks to all who replied . Pete